CN112198595A

CN112198595A - Bipolar fiber optic adapter and patch panel

Info

Publication number: CN112198595A
Application number: CN202011056877.4A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 查尔斯·波; 马修·伯格; 乔斯·纳萨里奥
Original assignee: Google LLC
Current assignee: Google LLC
Priority date: 2020-05-11
Filing date: 2020-09-30
Publication date: 2021-01-08
Anticipated expiration: 2040-09-30
Also published as: CN112198595B; US20210349266A1; US11226452B2; EP3910392A1

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to bipolar fiber optic adapters and patch panels. A dual polarity fiber optic adapter is provided that is capable of accommodating and mating with a fiber optic connector having a dual polarity. In one example, a fiber optic adapter module includes: a housing having a top wall, a bottom wall, a first side wall and a second side wall connecting the top wall and the bottom wall, the top wall and the bottom wall and the first side wall and the second side wall defining an interior region in the housing; a partition wall disposed in the interior region, connected between the top wall and the bottom wall, the partition wall defining one or more adapters in the housing, the one or more adapters each having a connector connection port formed therein, wherein the partition wall has a central portion sandwiched between the first portion and the second portion; and a projecting piece formed in the central portion, projecting outwardly from a first surface of the first portion and a second surface of the second portion, wherein the first surface and the second surface are vertically aligned.

Description

Bipolar fiber optic adapter and patch panel

Cross Reference to Related Applications

This application claims benefit of the filing date of U.S. provisional patent application No. 63/022,630, filed on 11/5/2020, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to bipolar fiber optic adapters and patch panels.

Background

The capabilities of optical fibers, optical cables, and fiber optic hardware are continually increasing to meet the demands of more and more users. Conventional duplex fiber optic connectors have switchable polarity. Duplex fiber optic connectors typically include a housing, a removable trigger mechanism (such as a latch), and first and second fiber optic connector assemblies having different polarity configurations. A removable trigger mechanism is typically slidably and removably fitted over the housing to releasably engage the first and second fiber optic connector assemblies so as to prevent rotation of the first and second fiber optic connector assemblies relative to the housing and thereby prevent unwanted polarity reversal. Polarity reversal is typically achieved by: the removable trigger mechanism is removed from the housing, followed by rotating the first and second fiber optic connector assemblies and reinstalling the removable trigger mechanism on the opposite side of the housing.

After the polarity is reversed, the first fiber optic connector and the second fiber optic connector are inserted into the adapter. The adapter may then mate the fiber optic connector to its associated corresponding fiber optic cable. The adapter may be mounted in a patch panel within the housing. However, after rotation of the polarity reversal, the geometry of the housing of the duplex fiber optic connector may not fit into the adapter. Conventional adapters are typically configured in one or the other polarity. Thus, it is often necessary for an operator to remove the original adapter and reconnect the fiber optic connector after polarity reversal using the polarity reversal adapter. Such replacement is a cumbersome process and labor intensive. In some cases, a system center (such as a data communications center, a computer center, an information center, etc.) is required to store various adapters having different polarity configurations for different polarity configuration requirements, which increases the burden on inventory, storage space, and associated costs.

Disclosure of Invention

A dual polarity fiber optic adapter is provided that is capable of accommodating and mating with a fiber optic connector having a dual polarity in any polarity configuration. In one example, a fiber optic adapter module includes: a housing having a top wall, a bottom wall, and first and second side walls connecting the top and bottom walls, the top and bottom walls and the first and second side walls defining an interior region in the housing; a partition wall disposed in the interior region, connected between the top wall and the bottom wall, the partition wall defining one or more adapters in the housing, each of the one or more adapters having a connector connection port formed therein, wherein the partition wall has a central portion sandwiched between the first portion and the second portion; and a tab formed in the central portion projecting outwardly from a first surface of the first portion and a second surface of the second portion, wherein the first surface and the second surface are vertically aligned.

In one example, a first portion of the partition wall horizontally defines a first slot in the connector connection port and a second portion of the partition wall horizontally defines a second slot in the connector connection port. A central portion in the partition wall horizontally defines a central slot between the first slot and the second slot. The first slot and the second slot are configured to receive a latch from the fiber optic connector. The central slot is configured to receive the connector assembly from the fiber optic connector.

In one example, the optical fiber connector is a dual polarity optical connector. The tab has a width of between about 1mm and about 100 mm. The first surface and the second surface have curved surfaces. In one example, a front section is connected to a rear section, wherein the front section includes a front surface having a connector connection port formed therein. The rear section includes one or more cable connection ports formed therein. The rear section is removable from the front section. The cable connection port is connected to a connector connection port in the housing. Three partition walls are formed in the interior region to define four adapters in the housing.

In one example, the fiber optic connector further includes a flag section formed at one end of the divider wall.

Another aspect of the present disclosure provides an adapter including: a housing having a top wall, a bottom wall, and first and second side walls connecting the top and bottom walls, the top and bottom walls and the first and second side walls defining an interior region in the housing, wherein the first and second walls each have a central portion sandwiched between first and second portions; and a tab formed in the central portion, protruding outward from a first surface of the first portion and a second surface of the second portion, wherein the first surface and the second surface are vertically aligned, wherein the first surface and the second surface are curved and geometrically identical.

In one example, the adapter is configured to mate with a bipolar optical connector having a standard polarity configuration or an opposite polarity configuration. The first portion horizontally defines a first slot and the second portion in the partition wall horizontally defines a second slot. The central portion horizontally defines a central slot between the first slot and the second slot. The first and second slots are configured to receive the latch from the fiber optic connector, and the central slot is configured to receive the connector assembly from the fiber optic connector.

Another aspect of the present disclosure provides a method for connecting a fiber optic connector to an adapter, the method comprising: mating a connector assembly of a fiber optic connector to a central slot of an adapter and mating a latch of the fiber optic connector to a first slot of the adapter, wherein the first slot is disposed on a first side of the central slot with a second slot disposed on a second side of the central slot being unconnected in the adapter.

Drawings

Fig. 1A-1C depict examples of fiber optic connectors according to aspects of the present disclosure.

Fig. 2A-2D depict examples of adapters according to aspects of the present disclosure.

Fig. 3A-3B depict examples of front and rear views of the adapter of fig. 2A-2D, according to aspects of the present disclosure.

Fig. 4A depicts an example of a fiber optic adapter module mounted in a chassis according to aspects of the present disclosure.

Fig. 4B depicts an example of fiber optic connectors having different polarity configurations connected to fiber optic adapter modules in a chassis according to aspects of the present disclosure.

Fig. 5A-5B depict examples of fiber optic connectors connected to fiber optic adapter modules in a fiber management system according to aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 depicts a front view of an example fiber optic assembly.

FIG. 7 depicts a top view of an example of the fiber optic assembly of FIG. 6.

Fig. 8 depicts a front view of a unit panel including a plurality of fiber optic assemblies, according to aspects of the present disclosure.

Fig. 9 depicts a front view of a fiber management system including a plurality of unit panels installed therein, according to aspects of the present disclosure.

Detailed Description

The present disclosure provides a dual polarity adapter for fiber optic interconnection. The dual polarity adapter has a plurality of slots defined in a connector connection port of the adapter. The plurality of slots are configured to mate with fiber optic connectors having any polarity configuration, such as a standard polarity configuration or an opposite polarity configuration. The plurality of slots defined in the dual polarity adapter may accommodate different orientations and geometric configurations of the fiber optic connectors 100 having different polarity configurations. A bipolar adapter may be used in a fiber management system, such as a patch panel, to provide a connection port capable of accepting a bipolar fiber optic connector in both positive and reverse polarity. Thus, the need to order different types of adapters having different polarity configurations and fiber management systems for mating with fiber optic connectors having different polarity configurations may be eliminated. Thus, labor and cost of fiber management is reduced, and the floor space required to place adapters having different polarity configurations can be eliminated, as the plurality of slots defined in the bipolar adapter can accommodate a bipolar connector having any polarity configuration.

Fig. 1A-1C depict an example of an optical fiber connector 100 that provides a dual polarity configuration. Fig. 1A depicts a top view of the fiber optic connector 100. The fiber optic connector 100 includes a body 102 having two connector assemblies 110 (shown as 110a, 110b) connected thereto. FIG. 1B depicts a front view of the fiber optic connector 100 showing two connector assemblies 110 (shown as 110a, 110B) formed at the front section 103 of the fiber optic connector 100. A connector polarity flag 104 is formed in the body 102 that indicates the polarity of the connector 100. The body 102 encases two optical fibers that are connected to two

connector assemblies

110a, 110b, respectively. Two optical fibers enclosed in the body 102 are connected to a cable 122, the cable 122 being connected to the body 102. Fig. 1C depicts a side view of the fiber optic connector 100. Latch 106 has a first end 120 connected to

connector assemblies

110a, 110b by a spring latch arm 130 and a second end 124 connected to body 102. The latch 106 is used to secure the fiber optic connector 100 to the adapter. The spring latch arm 130 releasably engages the latch 106. The spring latch arm 130 may be squeezed to disengage from the latch 106. When the spring latch arm 130 is released and disengaged from the latch 106, the

connector assemblies

110a, 110b may be inserted into the adapter in a predetermined insertion direction. The adapters may be disposed in a chassis (not shown) installed in the fiber management system. The latch 106 abuts a spring latch arm 130 connected to the

connector assembly

110a, 110b for manual squeezing of the connector assembly downward movement, thereby allowing disengagement between the

connector assembly

110a, 110b and the adapter and removal of the

connector assembly

110a, 110b from the port. When reversal of the polarity configuration is desired, spring lock arm 130 may be depressed to release

connector assemblies

110a, 110b from body 102. The

connector assemblies

110a, 110b may then be flipped and rotated 180 degrees to obtain polarity reversal, and then the latch 106 will be reattached to the body 102 in the opposite position. Details of an adapter that may be used to mate with the fiber optic connector 100 having a dual polarity are shown in detail below with reference to fig. 2A-3B.

Fig. 2A-2D depict perspective, side, rear end, and top views, respectively, of an adapter module 200 according to an example of the present disclosure. The adapter module 200 includes a plurality of adapters 250. The adapter 250 is a dual polarity adapter that can accommodate different orientations and geometric configurations of fiber optic connectors 100 having different polarity configurations. In the example depicted in fig. 2A, the adapter module 200 includes four adapters 250 connected together (such as in a row or stack) in order to save space and maximize space usage between the adapters 250. Note that the adapter module 200 may have any number of adapters 250, such as at least one, at least two, at least three, at least four, at least five, at least six, or other number, as desired for the different configurations of the patch panels on which the adapter module 200 is configured to be mounted. Note that by utilizing multiple adapter modules 200 to be arranged side-by-side in multiple arrays, the density of fiber optic interconnections can be maximized. In this manner, the adapter modules 200 abut one another in adjacent rows and adjacent columns, thereby eliminating wasted space from between adjacent rows and adjacent columns and providing the greatest density of connection adapters 250 for the available open space in the patch panel. In one example, the adapter module 200 may be configured with any angular configuration to provide any connection orientation angle with respect to the patch panel.

The adapter 250 is configured to mate with a fiber optic connector, such as the fiber optic connector 100 depicted in fig. 1A-1C having a different polarity configuration. Note that while the geometric configuration of the fiber optic connectors can fit within slots and/or ports defined in the adapter 250, the adapter 250 can mate with other types of fiber optic connectors as desired.

In one example depicted in fig. 2A, the adapter module 200 includes a housing 202 having a top wall 204, a bottom wall 210, a first side wall 212A, and a second side wall 212b connecting the top wall 204 and the bottom wall 210. The top wall 204, the bottom wall 210, the first sidewall 212a, and the second sidewall 212b define an interior region 206, such as a channel. The interior region 206 of the housing 202 is divided by a plurality of dividing walls 225 defining a plurality of adapters 250 having a plurality of connector connection ports 248 therein. A partition wall 225 is connected from the top wall 204 to the bottom wall 210. Each connector connection port 248 is configured to receive a fiber optic connector, such as the fiber optic connector 100 depicted in fig. 1A-1C. Each adapter 250 defined in the adapter module 200 may be symmetrically identical and the first sidewall 212a and the second sidewall 212b may also be symmetrically identical such that the top and bottom are interchangeable as the adapter module 200 is rotated along its longitudinal axis.

Adapters 250 may serve as termination points between incoming fiber optic cables connected through rear section 214 of adapter module 200 and outgoing fiber optic cables (such as cables 122) connected through fiber optic connectors 100.

Although the examples described herein have four adapters defined in the adapter module, it is noted that the number of adapters formed, configured, or connected to form the adapter module can be in any number as desired.

The top wall 204, the bottom wall 210, the first and second sidewalls 212a, 212b, and the partition wall 225 of the housing 202 may be integrally formed as a unitary body from a polymeric material, such as molded plastic.

FIG. 2B depicts a side view of the adapter module 200. The front section 230 of the adapter module 200 has a connector connection port 248 defined therein, the connector connection port 248 being configured to receive a fiber optic connector 100. The front section 230 of the adapter module 200 has a tab 234, the tab 234 projecting outwardly from a central portion 236 between a first portion 242 and a second portion 238. When the bottom wall 210 is referred to as a horizontal base surface, the first portion 242 is vertically above the second portion 238 across the central portion 236. The first and

second portions

242, 238 each define a first surface 240 and a second surface 241, the first and

second surfaces

240, 241 being formed inwardly from the outer central surface 235 defined by the tab 234.

First surface 240 may have a curved surface extending from a first tip 245 of central portion 236 to a top edge 243 of first portion 242. Similarly, the second surface 241 may have a curved surface extending from the second tip 247 of the central portion 236 to the bottom edge 299 of the second portion 238. The curvatures of the first surface 240 and the second surface 241 are substantially the same and symmetrical. Thus, in one example, the first surface 240 and the second surface 241 are geometrically identical. The curved surfaces of the first and

second surfaces

240, 241 may facilitate finger gripping of structures inserted therein, such as latches from fiber optic connectors into and out of engagement with the first and

second portions

242, 238. A width 282 (such as the width of the tab 234) between about 1mm and about 100mm may be defined between the outer central surface 235 of the tab 234 and the top edge 243 and bottom edge 299 of the first portion 242 and second portion 238. The detailed structure of the adaptor 250 will be described below with reference to fig. 3A to 3B.

As discussed above, the adapter module 200 has a rear section 214 enclosing a plurality of cable ports 232, the plurality of cable ports 232 configured to receive fiber optic cables through additional connector structures as needed. In one example, the front section 230 may have a first height 280 across the housing 202 in a range between about 5mm and about 50mm (such as between about 8mm and about 22 mm). The rear section 214 may have a second height 278 across the housing 202 in a range between about 3mm and about 35mm, such as between about 4mm and about 22 mm. In one example, the first height 280 may be between about 30% and about 60% greater than the second height 278.

FIG. 2C depicts a rear end view of the adapter module 200. The cable ports 232 are formed in the rear section 214 of the adapter module 200 defined in each adapter 250. A distance 276 of between about 3mm and about 15mm may be defined between center points of the cable ports 232. The adapter module 200 may have a width 274 of between about 10mm and about 80mm (such as between about 15mm and about 40 mm) from the first sidewall 212a to the second sidewall 212 b.

FIG. 2D depicts a top view of the adapter module 200. The rear section 214 and the front section 230 may be interlocked by a locking mechanism. In some examples, to facilitate installation, the rear section 214 can be removed from the front section 230, and vice versa. In some examples, the rear section 214 and the front section 230 may be permanently secured and connected to each other as desired. In one example, the front section 230 has a first longitudinal length 270 of between about 5mm and about 50mm, such as about 10mm and about 30 mm. The rear section 214 has a second longitudinal length 272 of between about 5mm and about 50mm, such as about 10mm and about 30 mm.

In examples where only one adapter 250 is used, the separation wall 225 may be eliminated and the first portion 242, the second portion 238, and the central portion 236 may be formed in the first exterior sidewall 212a and the second exterior sidewall 202b of the housing 202. Similarly, a tab 234 projecting outwardly from a central portion 236 between the first and

second portions

242, 238 is defined in the first and second sidewalls 212a, 212 b. The first portion 242, the second portion 238, and the central portion 236 each horizontally define a first slot, a second slot, and a central slot formed therebetween. The slot is capable of receiving the fiber optic connector 100 in a similar manner as described above.

Fig. 3A and 3B depict a front top view and a rear top view of an adapter module 200 including four adapters 250. The divider wall 225 positioned in the interior region 206 defines a connector connection port 248 in the adapter 250. Each partition wall 225 has three portions, a first portion 242 and a second portion 238, and an intermediate portion 236 sandwiched therebetween. The first portion 242 formed in each divider wall 225 horizontally defines a first slot 302, and the second portion 238 formed in each divider wall 225 horizontally defines a second slot 304, while the central portion 236 horizontally defines a central slot 306 in the connector connection port 248, as shown in phantom. The first slot 302, the second slot 304, and the central slot 306 are in open communication, forming a passage that allows the fiber optic connector 100 to be inserted therein. The central slot 306 is configured to receive the connector assembly 110 from the optical fiber connector 100, while the first and

second slots

302, 304 are configured to receive the latches 106 from the optical fiber connector 100. In one example, the latch 106 may engage the first slot 302 when the fiber optic connector 100 is in a standard polarization configuration. Conversely, in the opposite polarity configuration, the position of the latch 106 may be rotated 180 degrees relative to the position of the latch 106 in the standard configuration or the positive polarity configuration. In this regard, instead of rotation of the fiber optic connector 100, the latch 106 may then engage with the second slot 304.

In other examples, when the standard polarity is configured such that the latch 106 is positioned downward, the latch 106 may engage in the second slot 304 while the connector assembly 110 engages with the central slot 306. Conversely, when the opposite polarity is configured to reverse the latch 106 and positioned upward, the latch 106 may be engaged in the first slot 302 while the connector assembly 110 is engaged with the central slot 306. The marker section 310 may be formed at the upper end of the divider wall 225 (such as in the first portion 242), or at the lower end of the divider wall 225 (such as in the second portion 238), or other suitable location to provide a prominent visual indication of the polarity configuration to a technician. In the example depicted in fig. 3A, the marker segment 310 indicates the standard polarity of the optical fiber connector 100 when the latch 106 is engaged with the first slot 302. Note that the marker segments 310 may be formed at different locations of the adapter 250 as desired to facilitate indicating the polarity configuration for technicians and operators.

Thus, by configuring the connector connection port 248 with the first and

second slots

302, 304 formed adjacent to or connected to the central slot 306, optical fiber connectors 100 having different polarity configurations can be easily installed and inserted into the adapter 250 without requiring additional changes in orientation, alteration of orientation, or rotational flipping of the optical fiber connectors or of the adapter. Two additional slots formed laterally relative to the central slot 306 (such as the first slot 302 and the second slot 304) may accommodate different orientations and geometries of the fiber optic connectors 100 when the fiber optic connectors 100 are reversed flipped for polarity changes. Thus, labor and cost of fiber management is reduced, and the footprint required to place adapters having different polarity configurations may be reduced.

Fig. 4A depicts an example of the adapter module 200 positioned in a chassis 402. In the example depicted in fig. 4A, the chassis 402 is configured to receive a plurality of adapter modules 200 (shown as 200a, 200b, 200c) aligned in a linear configuration. The chassis 402 may be mounted within the fiber optic assembly 600 (as shown in fig. 6). The chassis 402 may be provided in the form of a tray that can extend and slide like a drawer from the fiber optic assembly 600 to allow a technician to access the adapters 250 provided by the adapter module 200 and any fiber optic cables connected to the adapters 250 without removing the adapter module 200 from the fiber optic assembly 600. In the example depicted in fig. 4A, three

adapter modules

200a, 200b, 200c are mounted in the chassis 402, thus providing a total of 12 adapters 250 in one chassis 402. It should be understood that in other examples, the number of adapters may vary. Note that multiple chassis 402 may be connected side-by-side, end-to-end, in multiple arrays or columns, or in any suitable configuration, as desired.

Fig. 4B depicts an example of two fiber optic connectors 100a, 100B having different polarity configurations connected to an adapter module 200a mounted in a chassis 402. Since both the first and

second slots

302, 304 are defined in the adapter 250, two fiber optic connectors 100 having different polarities, such as a first fiber optic connector 100a having a latch 106 positioned upward from the housing and a second fiber optic connector 100B (not shown in fig. 4B) having a latch 106 positioned downward from the housing, may be engaged in the adapter module 200 through the first and

second slots

302, 304 formed in the adapter 250.

Fig. 5A and 5B depict an example having four

fiber optic connectors

502a, 502B, 502c, 502d connected to an adapter module 550 in a vertical configuration. FIG. 5A depicts four

fiber optic connectors

502a, 502B, 502c, 502d connected to an adapter module 550 as viewed from a first side 542, and FIG. 5B depicts four

fiber optic connectors

502a, 502B, 502c, 502d as viewed from a second side 540 opposite the first side 542 relative to a vertical axis 552 defined by the four

fiber optic connectors

502a, 502B, 502c, 502 d. In the example depicted in FIG. 5B, the first, third, and fourth

optical connectors

502a, 502c, 502d are connected to the adapter module 550 in a first polarity, with the

latches

520a, 520c, 520d located on the second side 540 relative to the vertical axis 552. In contrast, the second fiber optic connector 502b is connected to the adapter module 550 in a second polarity with the latch 520b on the first side 542 relative to the vertical axis 552, as shown in FIG. 5A. Because each adapter in the adapter module 550 has a central slot that is sandwiched and laterally surrounded by first and second slots,

fiber optic connectors

502a, 502b, 502c, 502d having either polarity configuration can have

latches

520a, 520b, 520c, 520d that engage either the first or second slots as desired.

FIG. 6 depicts a fiber optic assembly 600 having three

adapter modules

200a, 200b, 200c mounted therein. As discussed above, the partition walls 225 define four connector connection ports 248 in each

adapter module

200a, 200b, 200 c. The first, central, and second slots defined in the connector connection port 248 are not shown, and are omitted from this example for ease of description. A marker section 310 is formed on one side of the separation wall 225 to provide a visual indication of the polarity configuration. The fiber optic assembly 600 may be used with a tray for installation in a patch panel, such as a fiber management system. The fiber optic assembly 600 generally includes a front end 602, a rear end 604, two generally flat opposing

sides

606, 605 and an edge 610 connected therebetween. The alignment rail 620 is arranged along the longitudinal direction of the edge 610. A level 622 is operably coupled to the rear end of the alignment rail 620. The level 622 may include additional structure (such as latches, finger grips, etc.) to facilitate retrieval or removal of the fiber optic assembly 600 from the tray by a technician or operator. In some examples, multiple

optical assemblies

652, 654 may be stacked together side-by-side to minimize the gap therebetween, thereby maximizing the space available in the patch panel for use.

FIG. 7 depicts a top view of the fiber optic assembly 600 of FIG. 6. A plurality of cables 702 are each connected to a respective fiber optic connector by an adapter formed in each

adapter module

200a, 200b, 200 c. Note that in fig. 7, a portion 704 of the side 606 for enclosing the

adapter modules

200a, 200b, 200c and the cables 702 is cut away to show how the cables 702 are positioned below the side 606 in the interior volume defined in the fiber optic assembly 600. A plurality of cables 702 may be collected in ribbons 705 through adapters 706 or connectors for additional connections.

Fig. 8 depicts an example of a stack 800 of multiple fiber optic assemblies 600 connected side-by-side. In the example depicted in fig. 8, twelve fiber optic assemblies 600 are arranged vertically abutting one another and side-by-side. Each fiber optic assembly 600 encloses three

adapter modules

200a, 200b, 200c and also four adapters 250 each. Thus, the stack 800 of multiple fiber optic assemblies 600 may provide a total of 144 adapters (e.g., 144 for 4x3x 12), thereby providing 144 connector connection ports to which fiber optic connectors are allowed to connect. A stack 800 of multiple fiber optic assemblies 600 may be placed and mounted on a tray that can be slid and retrieved from a patch panel to facilitate management, replacement, and placement of connections of the fiber optic connectors.

Fig. 9 depicts an example of a front view of a plurality of stacks of a plurality of fiber optic assemblies 600 arranged in a fiber management system 900 connected side-by-side and end-to-end. In the example depicted in fig. 9, 24 fiber optic assemblies 600 abut one another and are arranged side-by-side in a first row 902 of patch panels 905. Similarly, another 24 fiber optic assemblies 600 abut one another and are arranged side-by-side in a second row 906 of patch panels 905. In addition, there are another 24 fiber optic assemblies 600 abutting each other and arranged side-by-side in the third row 908 of patch panels 905. Thus, each row has 288 adapters defined therein (e.g., 4x3x24 ═ 288), and a total of three rows can provide 864 adapters in the fiber management system 900 (e.g., 4x3x24x3 ═ 864), thereby providing a high density fiber management system that can accommodate 864 adapters in patch panel 905. Between each

row

902, 906, 908, a tray 904 may be disposed therebetween to facilitate retrieval and sliding of the fiber optic assemblies 600 in each row as drawers to facilitate management, installation, and replacement of connections of fiber optic connectors to be connected thereto.

Accordingly, a dual polarity adapter for fiber optic interconnection is provided. The adapter has a plurality of slots defined in connector connection ports in the adapter that are configured to mate with fiber optic connectors having either a standard or opposite polarity configuration. In other words, the adapter can be adapted to mate with fiber optic connectors having any polarity configuration (whether a standard polarity configuration or an opposite polarity configuration). The adapter may be used in a fiber management system, such as a patch panel, to provide connection ports at high density that are capable of accepting fiber optic connectors having both positive and opposite polarities. Thus, the need to order different types of adapters and fiber management systems for mating with fiber optic connectors having different polarity configurations may be eliminated.

Unless otherwise specified, the foregoing alternative examples are not mutually exclusive and may be implemented in various combinations to achieve unique advantages. As these and other variations and combinations of the features discussed above can be utilized without departing from the subject matter defined by the claims, the foregoing description should be taken by way of illustration rather than by way of limitation of the subject matter defined by the claims. Furthermore, the provision of examples and terms such as "such as," "including," and the like, described herein should not be construed as limiting the claimed subject matter to the particular examples; rather, these examples are intended to illustrate only one of many possible implementations. Further, the same reference numbers in different drawings may identify the same or similar elements.

Claims

1. A fiber optic adapter module, comprising:

a housing having a top wall, a bottom wall, a first side wall and a second side wall connecting the top wall and the bottom wall, the top wall and the bottom wall and the first side wall and the second side wall defining an interior region in the housing;

a partition wall disposed in the interior region, connected between the top wall and the bottom wall, the partition wall defining one or more adapters in the housing, each having a connector connection port formed therein, wherein the partition wall has a central portion sandwiched between first and second portions; and

a tab formed in the central portion projecting outwardly from first and second surfaces of the first and second portions, wherein the first and second surfaces are vertically aligned.

2. The fiber optic adapter module of claim 1, wherein the first portion of the partition wall horizontally defines a first slot in the connector connection port and the second portion of the partition wall horizontally defines a second slot in the connector connection port.

3. The fiber optic adapter module of claim 2, wherein the central portion of the partition wall horizontally defines a central slot between the first slot and the second slot.

4. The fiber optic adapter module of claim 2, wherein the first and second slots are configured to receive a latch from a fiber optic connector.

5. The fiber optic adapter module of claim 3, wherein the central slot is configured to receive a connector assembly from a fiber optic connector.

6. The fiber optic adapter module of claim 5, wherein the fiber optic connectors are bipolar optical connectors.

7. The fiber optic adapter module of claim 1, wherein the tab has a width between 1mm and 100 mm.

8. The fiber optic adapter module of claim 1, wherein the first and second surfaces have curved surfaces.

9. The fiber optic adapter module of claim 1, further comprising:

a front section connected to a rear section, wherein the front section includes a front surface having the connector connection port formed therein.

10. The fiber optic adapter module of claim 9, wherein the rear section includes one or more cable connection ports formed therein.

11. The fiber optic adapter module of claim 9, wherein the rear section is removable from the front section.

12. The fiber optic adapter module of claim 10, wherein the one or more cable connection ports connect with connector connection ports in the housing.

13. The fiber optic adapter module of claim 1, wherein three partition walls are formed in the interior region defining four adapters in the housing.

14. The fiber optic adapter module of claim 1, further comprising:

a marking section formed at one end of the partition wall.

15. An adapter, comprising:

a housing having a top wall, a bottom wall, a first side wall and a second side wall connecting the top wall and the bottom wall, the top wall and the bottom wall and the first side wall and the second side wall defining an interior region in the housing, wherein the first side wall and the second side wall each have a central portion sandwiched between a first portion and a second portion; and

a tab formed in the central portion protruding outward from first and second surfaces of the first and second portions, wherein the first and second surfaces are vertically aligned, wherein the first and second surfaces are curved and geometrically identical.

16. The adapter of claim 15, wherein the adapter is configured to mate with a bipolar optical connector having a standard polarity configuration or an opposite polarity configuration.

17. The adapter of claim 15, wherein the first portion defines a first slot horizontally and the second portions of the first and second sidewalls define a second slot horizontally.

18. The adapter of claim 17, wherein the central portion defines a central slot horizontally between the first slot and the second slot.

19. The adapter of claim 18, wherein the first and second slots are configured to receive a latch from a fiber optic connector and the central slot is configured to receive a connector assembly from the fiber optic connector.

20. A method for connecting a fiber optic connector to an adapter, comprising:

mating a connector assembly of a fiber optic connector to a central slot of an adapter, an

Mating a latch of the fiber optic connector to a first slot of the adapter, wherein the first slot is disposed on a first side of the central slot leaving a second slot disposed on a second side of the central slot unconnected in the adapter.